Neutralize the Funk in Your Junk With Odor-Absorbing Astronaut Undies

As the Land of the Rising Sun faces record-smashing temperatures, sales of odor-absorbing underpants originally designed for astronauts are hitting their own stride, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Goldwin, the company that markets Speedo swimsuits in Japan, claims that its nanotechnology-enhanced MXP unmentionables can neutralize the smell from four liters of sweat. The timing of the underwear’s commercial launch could not be more fortuitous: Japan’s Meteorological Agency is predicting the hottest summer in 100 years after a heat wave in Tokyo topped 95 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius).

SMELL YA LATER

The underwear comprises a nanotechnology- and eucalyptus-infused fabric by Toray that’s lightweight, sweat-absorbent, odor-removing, antibacterial, antistatic, flame-resistant, and quick-drying. Another benefit: They’re also water-conserving because they require infrequent washing.

The underwear comprises a nanotech- and eucalyptus-infused fabric that’s sweat-absorbent and antibacterial.

Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to live on the International Space Station, tested a similar line of odor-free clothing in 2009 when he wore the same pair of prototype underwear for a month without laundering. (There are no washing machines aboard the space station.)

The high-tech skivvies held up even under the rigors of rigors of daily physical activity. “I wore it for about a month and my station crew members never complained,” Wakata told press at a pre-landing briefing, “so I think the experiment went fine.”